Azarenka

Azarenka defeated Pegula 6-4, 6-1; She has not reached the Australian Open semifinals since 2013; The two-time champion will play Elena Rybakina in the last ...

I thought by executing really well, it paid off and the result came," Azarenka told reporters after the match. The Belarusian had set points in each of the next two games, the second of which saw her serve broken for the first time in the match. "She was just executing it, I feel, pretty well tonight. Pegula got a sniff of getting the set back on serve in the seventh game with a break point of her own, however Azarenka clicked back into gear and held for a 5-2 lead. She was doing it well." But she will have to wait until the French Open later this year for her next opportunity to advance to the semifinals of a major for the first time.

Rybakina hit 11 aces to take her tournament-leading total to 35. “I got all the experience at Wimbledon, and it's helping me now this time, here in Australia, ...

Pegula, a 28-year-old from New York, was playing in the quarterfinals in Melbourne for the third year in a row but fell to 0-5 for her career at that stage in Grand Slam tournaments. But also, at the same time, I know I have to play my best tennis. 5 Aryna Sabalenka as the lone top-20 woman still in the bracket. “And sometimes when you have this great result, it just shows you what you are capable of and you start to believe more and more.” She often looked into the stands at her coach, Davis Witt, to say something, including one exclamation about the ball speed of “It’s so ... A three-time runner-up at the U.S. 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece or unseeded Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic for a berth in the men’s final. It was a far cry from the sort of success Pegula had earlier in the tournament: She entered Tuesday having dropped zero sets and 18 games across four previous matches. 1 ranking a decade ago, beating [Jessica Pegula](https://apnews.com/article/buffalo-bills-miami-dolphins-us-open-tennis-championships-cincinnati-bengals-nfl-2c3c6ab465f1f409761754d67e931956) 6-4, 6-1 on Tuesday night to return to the semifinals at Melbourne Park. I always believed in myself, but there are always ups and downs,” said Khachanov, a 26-year-old Russian who is seeded No. He called for a trainer to examine and tape it. 3-seeded Pegula, a good friend, get into the match.

The rejuvenated mother has put paid to an ugly win-loss record with a dominant victory over great mate Jessica Pegula.

Azarenka raced away to a 3-0 lead in the first set but struggled to close it out, requiring five set points across three games to claim it as Pegula found a foothold in the match. Pegula, 28, hadn’t dropped a set in Melbourne before facing Azarenka and had appeared primed to kick on and reach a semi-final at a slam for the first time. Plenty has changed for Azarenka in the 10 years since her last semi-final in Melbourne - she is now 33 and a mother, but her aggressive baseline play was a reminder of her past triumphs. Azarenka’s victory over Pegula was her first at a grand slam over a player ranked in the top five since recording her only two such wins in 2012. Azarenka, the 2012 and 2013 Open champion, defeated close friend Pegula 6-4 6-1 to reach the final four in Melbourne for the first time since sealing back-to-back triumphs 10 years ago. [Australian Open](https://7news.com.au/sport/australian-open) champion Victoria Azarenka has turned back the clock to stun world No.3 Jessica Pegula in straight sets and reach her third Melbourne Park semi-final.

The 33-year-old will take on Elena Rybakina after a 6-4 6-1 victory in the last eight.

I played with a lot of fear, a lot of anxiety. I worked a lot on my mindset. Pegula had reached the quarter-finals without dropping a set but was again unable to get beyond that stage, falling to her fifth consecutive defeat, including three in a row in Melbourne.

Melbourne: Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka is back in the semifinals after a 10-year gap, defeating No.3 seed American Jessica Pegula ...

Anything the No.3 seed tried; Azarenka seemed a step ahead. After such a fiercely contested opening set, Azarenka went from strength to strength in the second as Pegula ran out of ideas. Despite Azarenka soaring 5-2 up, Pegula dug deep, stepping into rip on the return to erase two set points for 5-4. Pegula connected with a highlight-reel backhand pass under pressure, however, Azarenka consolidated a 3-0 lead in just 12 minutes of clinical hitting. Tuesday’s result is Azarenka’s first Top 5 win at a major since defeating Maria Sharapova in the 2012 US Open semifinals. “It feels like there’s still a long way to go, to be honest.”

Victoria Azarenka showed glimpses of the form that took her to the 2012 and 2013 Australian Open titles with a vintage display to reach the semi-finals on ...

"Of course, I was nervous, particularly in the last game, but I'm happy that I managed my emotions. I played really well today." "I think until a certain point, it was very competitive, very good battle. "I'm feeling really good, to be honest, really happy with my level and how I compete and I'm looking forward to the semi-finals here in Australia the first time." "I feel like you want to show your best tennis in front of the best and I hope I did that and you guys enjoyed watching me because I really tried my best," she added. The 33-year-old from Belarus was aggression personified in the match but conceded that it was "nerve-racking" to play in front of Rod Laver, the Australian great after whom the main showcourt is named.

Two-times champion Victoria Azarenka toppled third seed Jessica Pegula 6-4, 6-1 to reach the Australian Open semi-finals.

[Azarenka’s title here in 2012](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/jan/28/victoria-azarenka-wins-australian-open) proved a defining moment in her career as she reached No 1 and embarked on a 26-match winning streak before [succesfully defending her title](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/jan/26/victoria-azarenka-australian-open-2013). This is the second time she has reached the quarter-final of a grand slam since 2016 and her second slam semi-final since 2013. Since then she has worked on learning how to process the emotions and thoughts she has in high-pressure, high-stress situations. I learned how to start to build a process that is step by step instead of jumping to conclusions in the situation, jumping to a result or to the goal, and really focusing on step by step, which is pretty hard to do. After taking maternity leave in 2016 and giving birth to her son, Leo, she struggled with personal issues, including a custody battle, and failed to consistently rediscover her level of old. Azarenka attributes some of her recent problems to nerves and anxiety that followed her on-court last season. That was kind of a very tough moment for me.” But in an arena of great importance to Azarenka’s career, the pressure she imposed overwhelmed Pegula. “She did exactly what she wanted to do,’’ Pegula said. It’s the right way to do it.’” Azarenka prowled inside the baseline, relentlessly taking the ball early and she imposed incessant, suffocating pressure. I was like: ‘You’re doing the right thing.

Victoria Azarenka has continued her remarkable resurgence at the Australian Open, and next takes on Elena Rybakina, who maintained her understated path to ...

“I did really good preparation with the team. So, it was kind of not really expected win at Wimbledon. “Tough to say for me, because the best support ... [sign up for our Sport newsletter here](https://www.theage.com.au/link/follow-20170101-p56jal). make the right choices in important moments when you feel anxious and hesitant. Azarenka held two set points at 5-3, but was unable to close it out as her rival kept pressing hard in rallies. I’m not really surprised with the results. “I think, of course, I got all the experience at Wimbledon, and it’s helping me now this time here in Australia and I know what to expect,” she said. 1 the opening set. “I played a lot of tournaments, so I was not at my best and I took a break. like first feeling where I really got a lot of support was at the Olympics when I played and there was no crowd there, but just receiving all the messages and everything. The pair are close friends and practise partners, and it was evident Azarenka had a handle on the flat-striking style of a rival who toppled Swiatek in the recent United Cup.

Victoria Azarenka of Belarus reacts after defeating Jessica Pegula of the U.S. in their quarterfinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in ...

“I was thinking about it. “There is sometimes, I don’t know, an incredible desire for a villain and a hero story that has to be written. I just felt a little bit overwhelmed realising that I’m one step from the final and nerves got into me for sure.”